MOSCOW — The foreign ministers of Russia and China jointly denounced what they described Thursday as the unilateralism of the United States, criticism that underlined their growing rapport on global issues. Speaking in Moscow after talks with his Russian counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi strongly criticized Washington's move to hike tariffs on Chinese products. "If the U.S. thinks that it can get advantages through protectionism, its calculus is wrong," Wang warned. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, when asked about Russia's view of the U.S.-Chinese trade conflict, said the U.S. action reflects the Trump administration's unilateralist approach to international concerns. Trump announces that U.S. military will soon have a ‘space force' He cited as examples the U.S. push to renegotiate a nuclear deal with Iran and the terms of an international climate agreement. "It has nothing to do with diplomacy. It's an attempt … [Read more...] about U.S. ‘unilateralism’ is bringing Russia and China together

Sir Richard Branson’s ambitious plans for 700mph “hyperloop” trains that transport passengers between cities in minutes are facing further upheaval after three members of his company’s board left and a fourth was arrested in Russia. The British billionaire invested in the Los Angeles start-up Hyperloop One last year and renamed it Virgin Hyperloop One, taking control of the company’s board after its previous chairman left last year under a cloud of sexual harassment allegations. It has now emerged that three heavyweight directors left the board in a shake-up at the end of last year. Jim Messina, a former adviser to Barack Obama, Jim Rosenthal, a former Morgan Stanley executive, and Peter Diamandis,... Register or log in to view this and other Technology Intelligence articles. It's free and easy to do. Access brilliant stories, features and analysis Sign up to our exclusive Technology Intelligence daily newsletter Become part of our ambitious … [Read more...] about Board upheaval at Sir Richard Branson’s Hyperloop One as director arrested in Russia

Published 7:02 a.m. ET March 16, 2018 ‘Loveless’ Starring: Maryana Spivak, Aleksey Rozin, Matvey Novikov The premise: Zhenya (Spivak) and Boris ( Rozin), who share a 12-year-old boy together and years of festering resentment and hate for one another, have all-but dissolved their toxic relationship and moved on with other partners. Now they have to figure out what to do with their son, Alyosha (Novikov), who isn’t wanted by either of them. One night, he overhears them arguing mercilessly about what to do with him (boarding school, adoption), and soon after that, he goes missing. Annoyed and inconvenienced, Zhenya and Boris must tolerate each other while police search for the boy. Directed by: Andrey Zvyagintsev Length: 2 hours, 9 minutes Rated: R for sexuality, graphic nudity, language and a disturbing image Other: In Russian with English subtitles LINDSEY BAHR, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Three stars out of four stars. Russia's foreign language Oscar nominee … [Read more...] about Review: Russia’s ‘Loveless’ is bleak and beautifully made

"Loveless" begins and ends with virtually the same series of shots: a wintry riverbank somewhere in Russia. In the opening sequence, there's a sense of quiet foreboding, of some evil lurking in, or just beyond, the snow-covered trees. By the time the film, which centers on the disappearance of a 12-year-old boy, has returned to the site, you will better recognize — while still, perhaps, not being able to name — the grim malaise that's only hinted at in the gray and bloodless prologue.It is an evil not supernatural, but utterly, devastatingly banal.A 2018 Oscar nominee for best foreign-language film, "Loveless" comes, unsurpri singly, from Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev, who has the instincts of a contract killer: He is both ruthless and cleanly efficient when it comes to skewering contemporary Russian society. In 2015, Zvyagintsev's "Leviathan," about one man's quixotic quest to save his house from demolition, was also up for an Academy Award. In 2011, his "Elena," … [Read more...] about ‘Loveless’ review: Lost boy in a lost Russia